unemployment

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

1

: the state of being unemployed : involuntary idleness of workers

also : the rate of such unemployment

2

: unemployment compensation

Examples of unemployment in a Sentence

My unemployment lasted about six months.

Unemployment has been increasing for months.

The current unemployment rate is six percent.

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, workers with a disability had an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent in 2023 compared with workers without a disability who had 3.5 percent. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024

Here are the requirements set by the California Employment Development Department: What are the basic requirements to receive unemployment benefits in California? —Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 10 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing unemployment

• anti-unemployment
• unemployment compensation
• unemployment insurance

Kids Definition

unemployment

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

: the state of being out of work